The Constitutional Court confirmed a ruling by the Western Cape High Court which found that the Act was invalid – because it did not provide for the disclosure of information pertaining to the private funding that political parties receive.

#PartyFunding: Parliament now has 18 months to make the required amendments so that PAIA provides for the preservation and disclosure of information surrounding party funding.

Non-profit organisation My Vote Counts had previously argued in the Constitutional Court that it was critical for voters to know who funded political parties, so that citizens could make informed decisions.

Chief Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng says for an electorate to make an informed decision they need to know who funds their party of choice. He says given the high levels of corruption, there is a need to regulate party funding.

#PartyFunding: Mogoeng: Order of Constitutional invalidity of PAIA made by High Court in CT is confirmed. Information of party funding is essential to make informed decisions.

“If voters do not know who funds a party, that situation is likely to lead to corruption. The reality is that political parties and independent candidates require a lot of money to register, and run campaigns. Candidates cannot run for elections unaided by private funders,” he says.

#PartyFunding: Mogoeng: Given high levels of corruption, there is a need to regulate party funding. If voters do not know who funds a party, that situation is likely to lead to corruption.

#PartyFunding: Mogoeng: The reality is that political parties and independent candidates require a lot of money to register, and run campaigns. Candidates cannot run for elections unaided by private funders.